The elevator pitch has long been used to introduce a business, person or idea. The concept is that a person only has three minutes, the length of time it takes to travel from the first floor to the top floor in an elevator, to convey an idea and gain buy in. For RISE:2015, we want you to take the format of an elevator pitch and apply it to your research. We call this the RISE Pitch.

The RISE Pitch should be formed and crafted to succinctly inform attendees about your research topic. Remember everyone will not have expertise in your field, so keep it high level and understandable!

Keeping in mind that you only have 3-5 minutes, here is what you should cover in your RISE Pitch.

First, introduce yourself and your interest in the research topic. This is a great time to introduce an emotional connection to your topic or to tell a story about why you chose it.

Next, describe your topic. This could be as simple as stating the title of your project and stating the basic premise of your research.

Explain the problem or issue involved with your research and how you approached it. Remember, you don’t have time to delve into the nuances of your research keep it high level and interesting.

Move onto why the topic is compelling. Don’t let the audience or judges leave saying so what? Take a moment to describe the connection between your research and the broader implications. What does your research add to the conversation?

Once you’ve crafted your RISE Pitch, it’s important to practice it. Practice it out loud many times, in the shower, at the gym, during commercials, in front of the mirror, you get the idea.

Important tips

Design your pitch keeping a wide range of educated audience members in mind.

Avoid jargon every step of the way. If you can’t avoid it entirely, be sure to explain it.

Excite your audience with action verbs. Describe your work in terms of movement, activity and action.

Maintain enthusiasm.

Thank them for listening and offer to answer any questions they might have.

Make eye contact, smile, and show interest in their comments and questions.

More Information

We encourage you attend our pitch training sessions Hitting Your Target, where you will learn to plan, practice and perfect your RISE Pitch!